FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON .4fMIS0'' OFFICE OF February 11,2015 THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Bill Shuster U.S. House of Representatives 2209 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Shuster: Thank you for your letter expressing support for access to video programming, including programming specific to rural communities. I appreciate hearing your views. This issue has been raised by commenters in the context of the pending transactions between Comcast and Time Warner Cable, and AT&T and DirecTV. With regard to your specific concern about rural-focused programming. I note that RFD-TV. a Nebraska-based digital cable and satellite television channel, along with many of its viewers, have filed comments in both of the pending proceedings. Please be assured that the views of RFD-TV and its viewers will be given careful consideration as the staff reviews the record in the proceedings. You also indicate in your letter that the video marketplace is evolving and shifting with more content provided through broadband connections. Like you, I recognize that having access to broadband is a challenge for many rural Americans. In our recent 2015 Broadband Progress Report, adopted on January 29, 2015, the Commission found that broadband deployment is not keeping pace. The Commission indicated that over half of rural Americans lack access to the updated broadband benchmark speeds of 25 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads, whereas only eight percent of urban Americans lack access to the same benchmark speeds. Based on the number of unserved Americans and for other reasons, the Commission concluded that broadband is not being deployed in a reasonable and timely fashion. The Commission recognized that while we have made progress, more work needs to be done. We will continue to take steps to bring robust broadband to the nation and, in particular, rural areas. Since 2011. the Commission has been working to bring broadband to rural Americans through the Connect America Fund (CAF). The program is part of the Universal Service Fund that supports broadband networks in unserved rural areas. Hundreds of millions of dollars already have been invested, with more than $20 billion more to come over the next five years for fixed service. Our Mobility Fund has already targeted $220 million in support to upgrade areas culTently without 3G service, within 27 states, with an additional $50 million targeted to remote and underserved areas on Tribal lands. The Commission has also been working to improve wireless broadband services in rural areas. Not only are we working to make more spectrum available to all Americans, including those in rural areas, but our Mobile Spectrum Holding rules help ensure access in rural areas to spectrum necessary if competitors are to fill in the blank white spaces on the coverage maps we see on TV commercials. Finally, the Commission recently modernized the E-rate program to help close the digital divide in rural Page 2-The Honorable Bill Shuster schools and libraries by ensuring equitable access to funding for Wi-Fi, providing additional flexibility to schools and libraries seeking affordable high-speed broadband connections, and adjusting the E-rate cap to ensure sufficient funding is available to meet the program goals. I am hopeful that these recent actions will help deliver greater competition and more choice for consumers. In addition, in conjunction with the release of the 2015 Broadband Progress Report, we issued a Notice of Inquiry that sought comment on what additional steps the Commission can take to accelerate broadband deployment, especially in rural areas. Please be assured the Commission will continue to keep rural Americans' needs in mind as it moves ahead with its work. I appreciate hearing directly from you on the issues that face your constituents and hope to continue a dialogue with you. Sincerely, Tom Wheeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF February 11,2015THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Adrian Smith U.S. House of Representatives 2241 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Smith: Thank you for your letter expressing support for access to video programming, including programming specific to rural communities. I appreciate hearing your views. This issue has been raised by commenters in the context of the pending transactions between Comcast and Time Warner Cable, and AT&T and DirecTV. With regard to your specific concern about rural-focused programming, I note that RFD-TV, a Nebraska-based digital cable and satellite television channel, along with many of its viewers, have filed comments in both of the pending proceedings. Please be assured that the views of RFD-TV and its viewers will be given careful consideration as the staff reviews the record in the proceedings. You also indicate in your letter that the video marketplace is evolving and shifting with more content provided through broadband connections. Like you, I recognize that having access to broadband is a challenge for many rural Americans. In our recent 2015 Broadband Progress Report, adopted on January 29, 2015, the Commission found that broadband deployment is not keeping pace. The Commission indicated that over half of rural Americans lack access to the updated broadband benchmark speeds of 25 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads, whereas only eight percent of urban Americans lack access to the same benchmark speeds. Based on the number of unserved Americans and for other reasons, the Commission concluded that broadband is not being deployed in a reasonable and timely fashion. The Commission recognized that while we have made progress, more work needs to be done. We will continue to take steps to bring robust broadband to the nation and, in particular, rural areas. Since 2011, the Commission has been working to bring broadband to rural Americans through the Connect America Fund (CAF). The program is part of the Universal Service Fund that supports broadband networks in unserved rural areas. Hundreds of millions of dollars already have been invested, with more than $20 billion more to come over the next five years for fixed service. Our Mobility Fund has already targeted $220 million in support to upgrade areas currently without 3G service, within 27 states, with an additional $50 million targeted to remote and underserved areas on Tribal lands. The Commission has also been working to improve wireless broadband services in rural areas. Not only are we working to make more spectrum available to all Americans, including those in rural areas, but our Mobile Spectrum Holding rules help ensure access in rural areas to spectrum necessary if competitors are to fill in the blank white spaces on the coverage maps we see on TV commercials. Finally, the Commission recently modernized the E-rate program to help close the digital divide in rural Page 2-The Honorable Adrian Smith schools and libraries by ensuring equitable access to funding for Wi-Fi, providing additional flexibility to schools and libraries seeking affordable high-speed broadband connections, and adjusting the E-rate cap to ensure sufficient funding is available to meet the program goals. I am hopeful that these recent actions will help deliver greater competition and more choice for consumers. In addition, in conjunction with the release of the 2015 Broadband Progress Report, we issued a Notice of Inquiry that sought comment on what additional steps the Commission can take to accelerate broadband deployment, especially in rural areas. Please be assured the Commission will continue to keep rural Americans' needs in mind as it moves ahead with its work. I appreciate hearing directly from you on the issues that face your constituents and hope to continue a dialogue with you. Sincerely, Tom Wheeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASH INGTON February 11, 2015 THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Jason Smith U.S. House of Representatives 2230 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Smith: Thank you for your letter expressing support for access to video programming, including programming specific to rural communities. I appreciate hearing your views. This issue has been raised by commenters in the context of the pending transactions between Comcast and Time Warner Cable, and AT&T and DirecTV. With regard to your specific concern about rural-focused programming, I note that RFD-TV, a Nebraska-based digital cable and satellite television charmel, along with many of its viewers, have filed comments in both of the pending proceedings. Please be assured that the views of RFD-TV and its viewers will be given careful consideration as the staff reviews the record in the proceedings. You also indicate in your letter that the video marketplace is evolving and shifting with more content provided through broadband connections. Like you, I recognize that having access to broadband is a challenge for many rural Americans. In our recent 2015 Broadband Progress Report, adopted on January 29, 2015, the Commission found that broadband deployment is not keeping pace. The Commission indicated that over half of rural Americans lack access to the updated broadband benchmark speeds of 25 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads, whereas only eight percent of urban Americans lack access to the same benchmark speeds. Based on the number of unserved Americans and for other reasons, the Commission concluded that broadband is not being deployed in a reasonable and timely fashion. The Commission recognized that while we have made progress, more work needs to be done. We will continue to take steps to bring robust broadband to the nation and, in particular, rural areas. Since 2011, the Commission has been working to bring broadband to rural Americans through the Connect America Fund (CAF). The program is part of the Universal Service Fund that supports broadband networks in unserved rural areas. Hundreds of millions of dollars already have been invested, with more than $20 billion more to come over the next five years for fixed service. Our Mobility Fund has already targeted $220 million in support to upgrade areas currently without 3G service, within 27 states, with an additional $50 million targeted to remote and underserved areas on Tribal lands. The Commission has also been working to improve wireless broadband services in rural areas. Not only are we working to make more spectrum available to all Americans, including those in rural areas, but our Mobile Spectrum Holding rules help ensure access in rural areas to spectrum necessary if competitors are to fill in the blank white spaces on the coverage maps we see on TV commercials. Finally. the Commission recently modernized the E-rate program to help close the digital divide in rural Page 2-The Honorable Jason Smith schools and libraries by ensuring equitable access to funding for Wi-Fi, providing additional flexibility to schools and libraries seeking affordable high-speed broadband connections, and adjusting the E-rate cap to ensure sufficient funding is available to meet the program goals. I am hopeful that these recent actions will help deliver greater competition and more choice for consumers. In addition, in conjunction with the release of the 2015 Broadband Progress Report, we issued a Notice of Inquiry that sought comment on what additional steps the Commission can take to accelerate broadband deployment, especially in rural areas. Please be assured the Commission will continue to keep rural Americans' needs in mind as it moves ahead with its work. I appreciate hearing directly from you on the issues that face your constituents and hope to continue a dialogue with you. Sincerely, Tom Wheeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASH !NGTON TH CHAIRMAN February 11,2015 The Honorable Chris Stewart U.S. House of Representatives 323 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Stewart: Thank you for your letter expressing support for access to video programming, including programming specific to rural communities. I appreciate hearing your views. This issue has been raised by commenters in the context of the pending transactions between Corncast and Time Warner Cable, and AT&T and DirecTV. With regard to your specific concern about rural-focused programming, I note that RFD-TV, a Nebraska-based digital cable and satellite television channel, along with many of its viewers, have filed comments in both of the pending proceedings. Please be assured that the views of RFD-TV and its viewers will be given careful consideration as the staff reviews the record in the proceedings. You also indicate in your letter that the video marketplace is evolving and shifting with more content provided through broadband connections. Like you, I recognize that having access to broadband is a challenge for many rural Americans. In our recent 2015 Broadband Progress Report, adopted on January 29, 2015, the Commission found that broadband deployment is not keeping pace. The Commission indicated that over half of rural Americans lack access to the updated broadband benchmark speeds of 25 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads, whereas only eight percent of urban Americans lack access to the same benchmark speeds. Based on the number of unserved Americans and for other reasons, the Commission concluded that broadband is not being deployed in a reasonable and timely fashion. The Commission recognized that while we have made progress, more work needs to he done. We will continue to take steps to bring robust broadband to the nation and, in particular, rural areas. Since 2011, the Commission has been working to bring broadband to rural Americans through the Connect America Fund (CAF). The program is part of the Universal Service Fund that supports broadband networks in unserved rural areas. Hundreds of millions of dollars already have been invested, with more than $20 billion more to come over the next five years for fixed service. Our Mobility Fund has already targeted $220 million in support to upgrade areas currently without 3G service, within 27 states, with an additional $50 million targeted to remote and underserved areas on Tribal lands. The Commission has also been working to improve wireless broadband services in rural areas. Not only are we working to make more spectrum available to all Americans, including those in rural areas, but our Mobile Spectrum Holding rules help ensure access in rural areas to spectrum necessary if competitors are to fill in the blank white spaces on the coverage maps we see on TV commercials. Finally, the Commission recently modernized the E-rate program to help close the digital divide in rural Page 2-The Honorable Chris Stewart schools and libraries by ensuring equitable access to funding for Wi-Fi, providing additional flexibility to schools and libraries seeking affordable high-speed broadband connections, and adjusting the E-rate cap to ensure sufficient funding is available to meet the program goals. I am hopeful that these recent actions will help deliver greater competition and more choice for consumers. In addition, in conjunction with the release of the 2015 Broadband Progress Report, we issued a Notice of Inquiry that sought comment on what additional steps the Commission can take to accelerate broadband deployment, especially in rural areas. Please be assured the Commission will continue to keep rural Americans' needs in mind as it moves ahead with its work. I appreciate hearing directly from you on the issues that face your constituents and hope to continue a dialogue with you. Sincerely, Tom Wheeler FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON MISS0 OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN February 11,2015 The Honorable Mac ThornbelTy U.S. House of Representatives 2329 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Thornberry: Thank you for your letter expressing support for access to video programming, including programming specific to rural communities. I appreciate hearing your views. This issue has been raised by commenters in the context of the pending transactions between Comcast and Time Warner Cable, and AT&T and DirecTV. With regard to your specific concern about rural-focused programming, I note that RFD-TV, a Nebraska-based digital cable and satellite television channel, along with many of its viewers, have filed comments in both of the pending proceedings. Please be assured that the views of RFD-TV and its viewers will be given careful consideration as the staff reviews the record in the proceedings. You also indicate in your letter that the video marketplace is evolving and shifting with more content provided through broadband coimections. Like you, I recognize that having access to broadband is a challenge for many rural Americans. In our recent 2015 Broadband Progress Report, adopted on January 29, 2015, the Commission found that broadband deployment is not keeping pace. The Commission indicated that over half of rural Americans lack access to the updated broadband benchmark speeds of 25 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads, whereas only eight percent of urban Americans lark access to the same benchmark speeds. Based on the number of unserved Americans and for other reasons, the Commission concluded that broadband is not being deployed in a reasonable and timely fashion. The Commission recognized that while we have made progress, more work needs to be done. We will continue to take steps to bring robust broadband to the nation and, in particular, rural areas. Since 2011, the Commission has been working to bring broadband to rural Americans through the Connect America Fund (CAF). The program is part of the Universal Service Fund that supports broadband networks in unserved rural areas. Hundreds of millions of dollars already have been invested, with more than $20 billion more to come over the next five years for fixed service. Our Mobility Fund has already targeted $220 million in support to upgrade areas currently without 3G service, within 27 states, with an additional $50 million targeted to remote and underserved areas on Tribal lands. The Commission has also been working to improve wireless broadband services in rural areas. Not only are we working to make more spectrum available to all Americans, including those in rural areas, but our Mobile Spectrum Holding rules help ensure access in rural areas to spectrum necessary if competitors are to fill in the blank white spaces on the coverage maps we see on TV commercials. Finally, the Commission recently modernized the E-rate program to help close the digital divide in rural Page 2-The Honorable Mac Thornberry schools and libraries by ensuring equitable access to funding for Wi-Fi, providing additional flexibility to schools and libraries seeking affordable high-speed broadband connections, and adjusting the E-rate cap to ensure sufficient funding is available to meet the program goals. I am hopeful that these recent actions will help deliver greater competition and more choice for consumers. In addition, in conjunction with the release of the 2015 Broadband Progress Report, we issued a Notice of Inquiry that sought comment on what additional steps the Commission can take to accelerate broadband deployment, especially in rural areas. Please be assured the Commission will continue to keep rural Americans' needs in mind as it moves ahead with its work. I appreciate hearing directly from you on the issues that face your constituents and hope to continue a dialogue with you. erely,ç Tom Wheeler